vera baird donated £ 500,000 to victims first northumbria , a charity which supports crime victims in her area and of which she is a director .
sitting alongside her on the organisation 's top table is sue sim , northumbria 's chief constable , records revealed .
the pair now face a ministry of justice probe as critics accuse them of concocting ` a soap opera ' within the force .
but critics have described her selection of charity as ` inappropriate ' and a conflict of interest .